May, 1943

Sunday, 2 May, 1943
In Timor, B-25's bomb Penfoei. In New Guinea, other B-25's unsuccessfully attack a vessel off Toeal. A single B-17 bombs dock area at Finschhafen.

Monday, 3 May, 1943
In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-25's strafe the airfield at Gasmata while a B-17 strafes launches N of Lolobau Island, claiming 1 boat sunk. HQ 54th Troop Carrier Wing transfers from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia to Port Moresby, New Guinea.

Tuesday, 4 May, 1943
In New Guinea, B-24's bomb Babo and the town area, harbor, and shipping at Wewak. In the Bismarck Archipelago, single B-24's hit barges off the N coast of New Britain.

Wednesday, 5 May, 1943
In New Guinea, B-25's pound Toeal. In the Bismarck Archipelago, a lone B-24 bombs airfields at Cape Gloucester and Gasmata.

Thursday, 6 May, 1943
In New Guinea, A-20's hit forces in the Green's Hill area. Single B-24's hit Madang and Finschhafen while other B-24's hit Manokwari and Toeal.  In Timor, B-25's pound Dili.

Friday, 7 May, 1943
In New Guinea, B-17's and B-24's bomb the airfield, supply dumps, and other targets at Madang while A-20's hit forces in the Green's Hill area. In Timor, B-25's pound Penfoei.

Saturday, 8 May, 1943
In New Guinea, B-25's claim the destruction of 2 cargo vessels at Madang. In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17's bomb the airfield at Rabaul, and single B-17's attack barges and small boats off the N coast of New Britain.

Sunday, 9 May, 1943
In New Guinea, B-24's and B-17's bomb Manokwari, Nabire, Kaimana, and Madang Airfield, and the Wewak-But area. In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-25's hit the airfield at Gasmata. The 89th Bombardment Squadron (Dive), 3d Bombardment Group (Dive) with A-20's transfers from Port Moresby, New Guinea to Dobodura, New Guinea. Both the squadron and group will be redesignated Bombardment Group/Squadron (Light) on 25 May 43 to reflect it's true equipment and mission.

Monday, 10 May, 1943
In New Guinea, A-20's bomb and strafe the Labu area. In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-25's pound Cape Gloucester Airfield. B-17's and B-24's, operating individually attack coastline targets in Northeast New Guinea; New Britain in the Bismarck Archipelago; and on Jamdena Island in the Sunda Islands. The 35th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group with P-39's transfers from Mareeba, Queensland, Australia to Port Moresby, New Guinea.

Tuesday, 11 May, 1943
In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17's and B-24's hit the airfield and general area at Rabaul. In Timor, B-25's bomb Penfoei and Dili. The 403d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), with B-24's transfers from Mareeba, Queensland, Australia to Port Moresby, New Guinea.

Wednesday, 12 May, 1943
In New Guinea, B-25's bomb the airfield and surrounding area at Finschhafen. In the Moluccas B-24's hit Saumlakki. Single heavy bombers hit Salamaua, New Guinea and Gasmata in the Bismarck Archipelago

Thursday, 13 May, 1943
B-17's bomb airfields at Rabaul on New Britain Island and Wewak and Boram in New Guinea. In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-25's blast the airfield, town area, and targets of opportunity at Gasmata while A-20's hit Cape Gloucester Airfield and area. Single B-24's and B-17's attack various shoreline and offshore targets, including landing strips, buildings, gun positions, barges, and vessels, on the Northesast New Guinea coast, New Britain, and in the Admiralty Islands.

Friday, 14 May, 1943
In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-25's administer a thorough pounding to the airfield and surrounding area at Gasmata while B-24's and B-17's pound Rabaul Airfield. In Timor, B-25's bomb Penfoei Airfield and the Dili area. Single heavy bombers hit various targets in Northeast New Guinea, New Britain and the Netherlands East Indies. The 475th Fighter Group and it's 431st, 432d and 433d Fighter Squadrons are activated at Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia. The unit will be equipped with P-38F and H aircraft and will enter combat in August 1943.

Saturday, 15 May, 1943
In New Guinea, B-25's pound the airfield at Lae; A-20's strafe the aircraft and building at Lae; and B-24's hit Nabire. In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-25's pound the airfield at Gasmata; B-24's bomb the airfield at Rabaul; and single heavy bombers hit Gasmata, Cape Gloucester, and barges SW of Ubili.

Sunday, 16 May, 1943
In the Celebes, B-24's bomb the Kendari Airfield area. Single heavy bombers attack coastal or offshore targets in NE New Guinea, New Britain, and New Ireland. HQ 8th Fighter Group transfers from Mareeba, Queensland, Australia to Port Moresby, New Guinea.

Monday, 17 May, 1943
In Timor, B-25's bomb Dili, Penfoei, and Barique. In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-25's bomb Gasmata; single heavy bombers hit Gasmata and Cape Gloucester. In New Guinea, single heavy bombers hit Lae and Finschhafen.

Tuesday, 18 May, 1943
In the Bismarck Archipelago, heavy bombers, operating individually, hit Gasmata and Rabaul Airfields twice and Cape Gloucester, and Arawe; in addition to Lorengau in the Admiralty Islands once.

Wednesday, 19 May, 1943
In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-24's hit the airfield at Gasmata. Single heavy bombers hit Gasmata twice during the day. In New Guinea, B-25's attack the Salamaua area and targets of opportunity off the NE coast of the Huon Peninsula. In Timor, B-24's hit Penfoei.

Thursday, 20 May, 1943
In the Bismarck Archipelago, the airfield and surrounding areas on Gasmata Island are hit by A-20's during the night of 20/21 May and by B-17's during the day. B-17's and B-24's bomb Vunakanau Airfield. In New Guinea, B-25's sink several barges offshore between Madang and Cape Cretin. HQ 3d Bombardment Group (Dive) transfers from Port Moresby, New Guinea to Dobodura, New Guinea. The group and it's 4 squadrons will be redesignated Bombardment Group/Squadron (Light) on 25 May to reflect their true aircraft.

Friday, 21 May, 1943
In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17's bomb airfields in the Rabaul area while B-24's hit the airfield at Gasmata. In New Guinea, Nabire Airfield is hit by B-24's. In the Moluccas, B-25's blast AA positions, supply dumps, and town area, at Saumlakki. The 90th Bombardment Squadron (Dive), 3d Bombardment Group (Dive) transfers with B-25's from Port Moresby, New Guinea to Dobodura, New Guinea. The squadron will be redesignated Bombardment Squadron (Light) on the 25th.

Saturday, 22 May, 1943
In New Guinea, B-24's bomb the town of Kaimana and strafe power launches at Koer Island. The 36th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group transfers with P-39's from Mareeba, Queensland, Australia to Port Moresby, New Guinea.

Sunday, 23 May, 1943
In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-24's and B-17's hit the harbor and airfield at Kavieng, the airfield at Gasmata, and the village of Ubili. The 13th Bombardment Squadron (Dive), 3d Bombardment Group (Dive) transfers with B-25's from Port Moresby, New Guinea to Dobodura, New Guinea.

Monday, 24 May, 1943
In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-24's pound Lakunai Airfield at Rabaul while B-25's hit the runway at Gasmata. In Timor, B-25's bomb Penfoei.

Tuesday, 25 May, 1943
Single heavy bombers bomb coastal airfields and villages; in New Guinea they hit Madang, Kakakog, and Simbang; in the Bismarck Archipelago, they hit Cape Gloucester and attack barges off Gavuvu.

Wednesday, 26 May, 1943
In New Guinea, 9 B-24's and B-25's bomb Madang town area and airfield.

Thursday, 27 May, 1943
In New Guinea, B-24's and B-25's pound the Lae town area and airfield. Other B-25's hit enemy forces at Labu and Jacobsens Plantation. Finschhafen, Saidor, Kakakog, and Langgoer are hit by single-plane strikes.

Friday, 28 May, 1943
In New Guinea, B-17's and B-24's attack Wewak, Dagua, and Boram Airfields and bomb the Wewak-Dagua coast road.

Saturday, 29 May, 1943
In New Guinea, B-17's bomb Madang and Alexishafen. Heavy and medium bombers, operating individually or in flights of 2 bombers, attack the town, airfields, shipping, docks, and other targets at various places, including Babo, Nabire, Saidor, Finschhafen, and Manam Island; Cape Gloucester in the Bismarck Archipelago; Damar Island, Soemba, and Soembawa in the Sunda Islands; and Dili and Penfoei on Timor.

Sunday, 30 May, 1943
In New Guinea, B-17's bomb Wewak, Boram, and Madang. In the Celebes, B-24's hit the Kendari area.

Monday, 31 May, 1943
In New Guinea, B-24's pound Lae Airfield and the town area.